Growing up, Ben watched as his grandmother received care in a variety of healthcare settings.

“It gave me a firsthand look at the multifaceted role nurses play in patient care,” Ben said.

This, coupled with his love of talking to and caring for others, determined a career in nursing was a perfect fit for the Albury local.

“As a nurse, I have the privilege of getting to know my patients on a personal level and providing care that is tailored to their unique needs,” Ben said.

While the career path embraced his passions, it was a friend called Kate who became his biggest inspiration.

Kate and Ben were family friends, also travelling overseas to America together for exchange.

“Kate has since passed away, but I will forever be deeply inspired by her,” Ben said.

“She was always a person that cared for others and someone that could always make your day a little brighter, which was a huge inspiration for how I like to care for my patients.

“She was someone that always believed you should try to leave someone feeling better following your interaction with them and should always be mindful that you cannot know exactly how a person is feeling.

“Completing this degree feels like a way to stay connected to her.”

Despite his recent graduation, Ben’s career goal wasn’t always so clear.

“After graduating high school, I wasn’t ready to commit to a university degree because I wasn’t sure which path was right for me,” he said.

“Instead, I decided to find a nine-to-five job that would also give me a solid financial foundation for when I was ready to continue my studies.”

During this time, Ben completed a Certificate III in Business Administration during a traineeship with Enhance Physiotherapy.

“It included a medical terminology component which was taught by a local nurse, Nat, who I found inspirational when considering my future career as a nurse,” Ben said.

“This course provided me with valuable professional experience in areas like patient confidentiality and communication, as well as a better understanding of ‘medical jargon’, for my subsequent studies with Charles Sturt.”

Ben was able to pursue a degree through Charles Sturt’s TAFE to university pathway support and hasn’t looked back.

“Charles Sturt was an amazing choice as I was able to stay close to my family and friends, as well as being able to continue working whilst studying,” he said.

“Charles Sturt also had fantastic facilities, including skills labs with patient mannequins and other useful equipment and the fully equipped library was particularly helpful for me.

“It provided a quiet, focused environment away from home distractions.”

Ben was also fortunate to receive a $500 boost to help fund his studies, in the form of the National Mental Health Pathways to Practice Scholarship.

“This scholarship allowed me to be able to better support myself through my mental health placement, which further allowed me to commit myself to placements without the worry of outside financial strain,” he said.

Now with his degree in hand, Ben is completing a graduate year with Albury Day Surgery.

“Beyond that, I’m not sure what’s ahead but I know I’ve made the right choice for my career – I’ve never been happier,” he said.

Offering some words of advice as he reflects on his studies, Ben said the most important thing to remember is to be as authentic as possible.

“This helps you form personal connections and gain a deeper understanding of your learning and experiences, meaning a better university journey overall,” he said.

“Don’t compare your marks to your friends or those around you.

“At the end of the day, you might be excelling in different areas and getting different things out of your degree, so as long as you are giving it your all, that’s all that matters!”